Pilot gas regulator



Dec. ll, 1951 C. O. GLASGOW P ILOT GAS REGULATOR Filed NOV. '7, 1949 C/arence 0. G/czsow A TTORNE YS Patented Dec. 11, 1951 ..2..578,005 "BILOTGAS REGULATOR;

'@Qlarencfff.Glasgow. Tulsa.;(lidar` assignorto .-.Nationalr'lank Giunpany, Tulsa, Okla., a corpo- .ratioirof Nevada.

Y- application November 7, 1949,.iSerialNov.l 125.1883

3;.Claims.

, invention relates,..to` .new \.and:1.-1.1.Se.1.11-.jimprovements in. pressure;--regulatora-,andrfmethoclsr for drawing oi minor streamsofggas troni/majorstreams vofV gas.

.There are manyinstances-inwhichizit is neces.V

sary .or desirable.. to drawoi` azsrnall: quantityof.

gasrfroma main gaseous stream and=to reducegthe pressurefof the zdrawngoffaportion for';.einp1'f.1yV ment inthe carrying. .out yof4 variousnpurposes.

Qneminstance is` the drawing v off. ofw;` asf-small" quantity-.of gasfor operatingf-the.diaphragnr of' valvesv employedon-,oil and gas separa-tors utilizedin. thel oilA fields for` the `.Sepa-ration of. `.petroleum and gas'. :The description will largely =be directed.

for ther sake of conveniencesand.illustrationatofthis particular useof regulators. Itis. :to be; kept inmind', however, that the invention is applicable wherever.- a moderate quantity `of'-gasa-Lisidrawn off-fromra main gasV stream,` and .the pressure thereof reduced in -the .course of*v such drawingloi'.

f Iny reducing the pressure Yof a diverted.. streamv of: gas, the problem of freezing and=.-theformation of hydratesisl encountered.v (obviously. -in reducing the pressure-:olf the drawn-off `streamy ofrgas' to a considerable degree, l anvex-treme.-cooling eiectf is encountered,I and -thef streameofifgasis thereby chilled to a point at-which freezing and;

minor stream. of; gas, fromamaJ'Or stream oi asv 5 in; which the minori stream warmed. following its pressure reduction so as to prevent ,freezingga hydrate formationsA vparticular' vobject off .thefinvenllQm 4.is to pro videari .improved regulator anda .methodrof y.gas-.v

Withdrawal in' which the. .minor stream ofgass-isg passedgrin vheat exchange relationship. ith the main .streamY of gas subsequent.ftdthefreductioxr mopressure of said .fr minor stream.L whereby; gthe minor streamnt gasiszfwarmedaumt @tempera-.3,

ture above .thatzat :whichV freezingy or .hydrate formation. occurs.

A still further object. of the invention is 1:01pmvidetianimproved regulator having alinnedheat exchange; element.fdisposedrwithini the main gas stream tromwhichutheminor gas. stream is to-be drawn. n

Yetf-.anotherz'object of the invention -is.to -pro' videan improved regulator and afmethod of'gas Vwithdrawal in which the minor stream of gas-is passed -;"through an elongate vpath in'4 heatfexchange vrelationship with a massA of vheatconduc tiveamaterial exposed-to or in thermal communication-with the lmain-stream of gas, Wherebyf'the minor streamis adequately warmed' following pressure reduction.

lA-constructiondesigned to carry out the invention-willwbe hereinafter described together with othervfeatures ofthe invention.

l`The finventionwill be. more readily understood from a reading of the following nspecification and byreferencev to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of theinvention isI shown,4 and"- wherein:

i Fig.k lisaV side elevationof an oil and gas separaton employing a regulatorv constructed in accordance with this invention,

l'ig.' 2` is: an enlarged sectional view of a regulator; constructed Vin accordance -with this -inven tion, showing the regulator associated with a pipe orconductor,` and fFig: 3-is anenlarged view;A partially in elevation"t and partial in section; ofthe inlet` portion oithe regulator. l

In 'the drawings, the numeral l 0 designatestubular regulator body havinga dishedheadll at'one end'. IIhe head H carries amarginal out- Wardly-v extei-iolingfl flange l2 whichv receives the complementaryflange |31- of adorned head "14. The anges-are .joined by suitable bolts:l l'vto constitute a diaphragm enclosure I6, and a1 suit- .able flexiblediaphragm l1,.of any desirableA type;

isldisposed within thel enclosure. and has its marginal or .peripheral portion clamped between; the abutting faces ofr-.the-.flangesi Izandi. I3.. A .boss [.8 isi-.provided centrally; of the domed` covert` I4; beingaformed .with a.serewthreaded bore. 19. rev eenling-the. screw-threaded end 20 of-a asuitable conductorgzl.

The opposite endofp the. regulator housing.: Il! is.:.c1osed; bwa-.transverse partition.; 22: having =;.a

centra1.,screwthreaded .openings- 23 `receivin ak screw.,thr.eaded..;buslning,er1-valve;` rodf-:guide .41; Ayalve: rod 25 extends. through theraxial.. bore-.25 oftheguide Mandlcarriesiupon one-iena' aiangeo by rotation therein so as to vary the compressive Iselected at will.

force exerted by the spring 29 and thusregulate i or adjust the spring pressure exerted upon the diaphragm I1 tending to domed head |4.

A pair of diametrically opposed legs 30 are lmoveit toward-the the manifold ttlng 33. Atthe latter point, the bore 38 is enlarged to form a chamber 5| surrounding the valve rod and the inner end or terminus of the helical groove 50. A pair of diametrically opposed, radial bores or passageways 52 and 53, respectively, extend outwardly from the chamber 5|, the passageway 52 receiving a suitable pressure relief v:valve 54 which may be of any type desired.'A Preferably, the-pressure relief valve is of the adjustable variety whereby the pressure at which it opens may be adjusted or A suitable pipe'or conductor 55 is connected 1 intothevopposite passageway 53 and leads to a and extend from the partition 22 away from the diaphragm enclosure and in spaced parallelV re` f lationship with the valveQ rod 25. A collar 3| is formed integrally with the lower ends of the legs 30, and is provided with a central or axial screwthreaded bore` 32 in axial alinementwith the opening 26 of the valve rod guide 24. Adjoining the collar 3| is a manifold fitting 33 of generally cylindrical shape and carrying an axial screwthreaded pin 34 which is received within the screw-threaded. opening 32 of the collar. 3|. `A resilient O-ring 34' seals between the pin and the collar....

Upon its opposite face, the manifold fitting 33 carries an elongate, axial nozzle or intake fitting 35 which is provided with external screw threads 36 upon its portion adjacent said manifold fiting. Outwardly of the screw-threaded portion,

the intake fitting is reduced in external diameter and carries a plurality of circumferential, outwardly extending fins 31 which increase the exposed area of said intake fitting and are employed for heat exchange purposes. An axial bore. 38 extends throughout the length of the manifold fitting 33, thepin 34, and the nozzle or intake fitting 35, said axial bore being of such diameter as to receive the valve rod,25 in Vsnug sliding engagement; y The bore 38 is enlarged at 39 adjacent the outer extremity 40 of the nozzle or intake fitting and the valve rod 25 extends throughout the length of the bore38 and lapproximatly half way of the length `of the enlarged bore or counterbore 39.

The outer extremity 40 of the intake fitting 35 carries internal screw threads 4|, and the screwthreaded pin 42 of a valve seat nipple 43 is received therein. A generally conical teat or projection-44 extends axially of the inner end of the pin 42 into close proximity to the outer end of the valve rod 25. The projection is formedwith areduced axial bore 45, and the inner end of the projection. constitutes a valve seat 4B adapted to receive a valve insert 41 recessed in the outer end of the rod 25 and heldin position by a transverse pin148. Obviously, engagement of the insert with the projection will close ofi the bore 45, while Withdrawal of the valve rod and valve ,insert will open the bore 45 to permit flow therethrough. The outer portion of the bore 45 is enlarged to form an inlet counterbore 49 extending through the outer end of the nipple 43 for the admission of gas to the regulator. For elongatingthe path of travel of the admitted gas as it passes through this portion of the regulator structure, the valve rod 25 carries an elongate helical groove `5|) cut in its outer surface and extending'from apoint closely adjacent the valve insert 41 within the oounterbore 38 to a point spaced medially within T-iitting56 fromlwhich a reduced-pressure gas pipe 4or 'conductor'51 extends. The pipe or conductor 2| is connected into the other branch of the fitting whereby the pressure of the gas within-fthe conductors 55 and 51 is communicated to the diaphragm housing and exerted upon the outer .orleft-hand face of the diaphragm |1. `The .regulator operates in accordance vwith` well-known principles, the spring 29 tending to. shift the valve rod 25 to the left to move the insert 41 fromv theseat 46 and permit the flow. of gaswhile the gas Vpressure built up within the conductors 55 and 51 is communicated to the op-,z posite side of the .diaphragm l1 and tends to urge` the regulatortoward a closed position. `As .il well.understood, the force exerted by the spring 29 may be adjusted to cause the regulator to admit gas through the counterbore 49 and to maintain` a predetermined pressure within'the conductors 55 and 51.v Of course, a pressure reduc-. tion in the gas stream occurs in the course ofr this operation, the major portion of the pressure drop occurring within the passage 45 and asthe gas stream passes through the vvalve structure described. This pressure reduction is accompanied by a drop in temperature, in accordance withwell knownphysical principles.- and it is at this point that 4the most :dimculty has been encountered through freezing or the vformation of hydrates which. tend to partially or completely clog the ow passages of the regulator. Since nearly all of these reduced-pressure, streams or flows of gas are drawn off from a larger conductor through which the main` gas stream isfiowing at a relatively high pressure, a, typical-installation has been illustrated in:`Fig.,2 of the drawing; An opening 58 is cut in the wall of theI main" gas stream conductor 59, and a screw-threaded, iianged fitting 60 welded Aor otherwise secured in pl'ace over said opening.. The screw-threaded portion 36 of the inlet fitting 35 is received within the screw-threaded opening 6| of the fitting 60 to provide a pressuretight' varrangement and to' position the finned portion of the inlet fitting Well within the interior of the pipe 59. In this location, the inlet fitting is exposed to the main stream of gas flowing through the pipe'59, and because ofthe fins 31, eicient heat exchange is established between said fitting and the main gas stream. Thus, 'this entire portion of the regulator is held substan-l tially at or near lthe temperature of the main gas stream, and heat absorbed by the inlet fitting is readily transmitted through an integral metallic path to the screw-threaded portion 36 of the fitting and to the manifold fitting 33. 'I'he metallic' heat transfer is further enhancedthrough the' wall of the pipe 50,'the flanged fitting 60 and the screw-threaded portion 35 of the inlet fitting;

.-With this method, as theminor or reducod pressurey stream ofA gas passes throughv the coun-l terbore 49, has its pressure reduced at or near the valve seat 46, and is thereby subjected to a decrease in temperature, the subsequent flow of the minor stream of gas through the helical groove 59 affords ample opportunity for bringing the temperature of said stream up to a desirable temperature since the stream is passed in an elongate path in intimate heat exchange relationship with a considerable mass of metal or other suitable heat-conductive material which is held at temperatures above freezing by its thermal juxtaposition with the main stream of gas. The main gas stream thus is employed to maintain a sizeable portion of the regulator structure at a temperature at which freezing and gas hydrate formation will not occur, and the minor or reduced pressure stream of gas ows in an elongate path in eiiicient heat exchange relationship with the warmed portion of the regulator, with the net result that freezing and hydrate formation is avoided. It is also to be noted that the flow path of the minor stream of gas is quite circuitous whereby a degree of turbulence is effected and the entire body of said minor stream is subjected to the heating or warming process. Of course, the regulator action of the invention, aside from this heat exchange principle, is the same as that to be found in other types of regulaters.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated a particular adaptation of this regulator for use in conjunction with an oil and gas separator as commonly employed in the petroleum industry. The well stream is admitted to a suitable separator tank 62 through an inlet conductor 63, and gas is withdrawn through a pipe 64 leading from the upper end of the tank, while oil is drawn oi through a pipe 65 at the lower end of the tank. It is in most cases desirable to control the removal of the oil in accordance with its rate of accumulation, and for this purpose a suitable diaphragm-operated valve 65 may be connected into the outlet conductors 65. A suitable control device 61, which may be of any suitable type, responsive to the height of the body of oil within the tank 62, is connected into the pipe El leading from the regulator, here designated by the letter R, to the diaphragm housing 68 of the valve `53. The regulator R is connected into the pipe 66 in substantially the same manner as illustrated in connection with the pipe 59 in Fig. 2. With this arrangement, the heat content of the main stream of gas flowing through the pipe 64 is employed to maintain the temperature of the minor stream of gas withdrawn through the pipe 51 and prevent freezing and clogging of said pipe 51 or any of the passageways of the regulator R. Of course, should such freezing occur, the Valve 69 might not be operated, and dangerous or undesirable quantities of oil might accumulate within the tank 62. With the present invention, however, the freezing is prevented, and the operator of the separator structure may rest assured that the oil will be drawn off in the proper fashion as it accumulates.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to any particular type of regulator, the essence of the structure being the providing of the regulator valve with a nozzle or fitting which may be mounted within a flowing stream of gas or within a sizeable body of gas for the purpose` of maintaining the withdrawn or minor stream of gas at a safe operating temperature. The utilization of the ns 31 and the elongate helical groove 5) are supplemental and additive features of the invention.

Further, the method involved is not limited to any structure, but encompasses broadly the drawing ed of a minor stream of gas, reducing the pressure thereof, and passing it in heat exchange relationship with the main stream of gas. The structure herein described is one means, but not the only means, for carrying out the method. Other arrangements are obvious to one skilled in this art.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a conductor carrying a main stream of gas under pressure, a pressure reducer for withdrawing a minor stream of gas under reduced pressure including, an inlet fitting connected to and extending a substantial distance into the main stream conductor, said inlet ntting having an inlet within the conductor and an elongate helical now passage traversing the ntting within the conductor, a pressure-reduction valve between said inlet and said flow passage, means for operating said Valve, and a discharge conductor leading from the flow passage exteriorly of the main stream conductor.

2. The combination as set forth in claim l, and fins on the exterior of the inlet tting within the main stream conductor.

3. A pilot gas regulator adapted to withdraw a reduced-pressure stream of gas from a main gas stream conductor, including, an elongate inlet fitting having a gas inlet, a valve seat at the inner end of the fitting, a valve rod extending axially of the outer end of the fitting, a valve member carried by the inner end of the rod adapted to engage the valve seat, said fitting and rod having a helical flow passage therebetween leading from the valve seat to the outer portion of the fitting, means for reciprocating the valve rod to seat and unseat the valve member, a discharge conductor leading from the flow passage, and means for securing the inlet tting in the Wall of a gas stream conductor whereby said tting projects into the latter.

CLARENCE O. GLASGOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,011,100 Woods Aug. 13, 1935 2,355,125 Waterman Aug. 8, 1944 2,389,412 Carlton Nov. 20, 1945 2,389,413 Carlton Nov. 20, 1945 2,520,302 Barnes Aug. 29, 1950 

